This is the Year of Consecrated Life as declared by Pope Francis.   It started throughout the universal Church on the first Sunday of Advent, November 30th. The observance will end on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, February 2, 2016. We encourage all to pray for and honor those who are members of Religious Orders.

 Prayer for the Year of Consecrated Life

O God, throughout the ages you have called women and men to pursue lives of perfect charity through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience.  During this Year of Consecrated Life, we give you thanks for these courageous witnesses of Faith and models of inspiration.  Their pursuit of holy lives teaches us to make a more perfect offering of ourselves to you.  Continue to enrich your Church by calling forth sons and daughters who treasure the Kingdom of Heaven above all things.  Through our Lord Jesus, who lives and reigns with you.  Amen